Blog Posts
BG Film takes the Big Prize at the Annecy Festival (VIDEO)
The Bulgarian short film “Physics of Sorrow” by Teodor Ushev won the grand prize at the International Festival of Animated Films in Annecy, France (Festival international du film d’animation d’Annecy). It also received the FIPRESCI Award for International Criticism.
“Annecy has always been an important part of my life as a filmmaker, from my first projects on the web in 2002 to my latest film, The Physics of Sorrow. The festival practically took me by the hand and taught me to walk, as a father would for his child. I’ve won several awards at Annecy, except one: the spectacular Cristal Award. I’m extremely happy to receive it now, and feel like a mountaineer who has finally reached the summit after 18 years of climbing: this is my Everest!”, wrote Theo Ushev at his Facebook profile.
BG pride
“Physics of Sorrow” by the artist Theo Ushev reveals a universal vision of sadness from the novel of the same name by Georgi Gospodinov. The animation is drawn with the ancient Egyptian technique of encaustics (wax painting) and captures the time and sadness of every person and his place in the world. Ushev worked on the project for eight years and did not strictly follow the plot of the book for the script.
Online program
Due to the COVID situation, for the first year part of the program of the festival in Annecy will be available online – until the end of June. The total number of animated films received in the period November 2019-March 2020 is quite impressive – 3171 from 94 countries. Of these, 59 short films, 44 student, 21 television and 35 advertising productions have been selected and will be part of the online program. Fans of the animation can follow what is coming on the official website of the festival.
For the festival
The event dates back to 1960, when it was founded by Pierre Barben. It was originally held every two years, but since 1997 it has been held annually. Its purpose is to promote animations created using a variety of techniques. The categories in which the titles are divided are feature, short, television and student.
Weekend Idea: Klisura Monastery
Even if you don’t like “religious” tourism, we guarantee that the Klisura Monastery “St. Petka” above Bankya is not a bad idea. It is near to Sofia, and the area around is not reminiscent of the fast pace and crowded streets of the capital. A great alternative to the very “exploited” Vitosha.
Where is the monastery?
It is located between the village of Klisura and the town of Bankya near to Sofia, as we mentioned. It is on the top of a hill at the foot of the beautiful Lyulin Mountain. From the opposite meadow there is a view of Cherni Vrah, in addition there is a wonderful pine grove where you can cool off from the heat in summer.
History of the temple
The place has a special charm. The building impresses with an interesting facade, and in the courtyard of the monastery there is a beautiful flower garden, usually full of quite “friendly” butterflies.
The history of the monastery dates back to the 13th century, when it was the center of a large number of monasteries. Five centuries after its construction, it was renovated, and in the 20th century it was rebuilt by several Russian nuns. At that time, however, the monastery church “St. Petka Tarnovska” collapsed and had to be rebuilt. It was renovated in 1954 and painted by a Russian monk.
In the new century in the yard of the monastery was built an elegant and spacious church-rotunda. Much of the monastery is covered with external murals of bright colors that impress every visitor.
Legends
According to the legend, Tsar Ivan Asen II requested that the relics of St. Petka of Bulgaria be transferred to the capital Turnovo. However, the liturgical procession with her relics stopped for a rest near the present Klisura monastery and then became a real miracle. It is said that the place was illuminated by the incorruptible body of St. Petka and therefore the locals built a church there and later a monastery.
How to get to the monastery?
From Art Hotel Simona you can reach the Klisura Monastery by bus number 49 (from the metro station Konstantin Velichkov). From the last stop you will have to take a short walk – across the signs up through the pasture or left along the bike path on an easier route.
Of course, the easier option is by car. If you choose this one, it is best to turn on the GPS navigation or at the first roundabout in Bankya (at the entrance from Sofia) turn right and then follow the signs again.
Sofia Film Fest Returns With Summer and Autumn Editions
After the spring false start of the most anticipated cinema event in Bulgaria – Sofia Film Fest, due to the epidemic situation in the country, the organizers still found an alternative way to reach the audience. A summer edition is coming, and then an autumn edition, so that the fans of the Seventh Art can enjoy of many Bulgarian and foreign movies.
Sofia Film Fest Summer – indoors, outdoors and online
The festival has already restarted with preliminary screenings at the Cinema House in Sofia on June 5th. However, the official opening will be on June 25 in Platform A6 of the National Palace of Culture with something very special – the film “Parasite”, winner of 4 Oscars, “Golden Flame” from Cannes and more than 200 other awards around the world.
Online movies
Sofia Film Fest will offer part of its program online – about 80 titles. The movies will be available for a certain number of views in a little over 3 weeks.
Home of the cinema
A special selection of movies will be presented at the Cinema House in Sofia. With the exception of some Bulgarian films, the program will contain titles that are not repeated with the online edition or open-air screenings. And there is another bonus for the viewers – an opportunity to meet some of the Bulgarian authors.
Outdoor
The third module of the summer edition is on open platforms. The opening and the ceremony, as well as some other gala screenings will be in Platform A6 of the National Palace of Culture. There will also be the Open Stage platform in the park of the Military Academy, and content will be shared in the new Sofia Summer Fest platform behind the Earth and People Museum.
Awards
The awards were determined by a specially selected international and Balkan jury and will be presented on July 6th. The chairman of the international commission is the British director Peter Weber (“The Girl with the Pearl Earring”), and his assistants are the producers Nicholas Selis (Mexico, producer of “Roma”) and Jim Stark (USA, producer of the early films of Jim Jarmusch), and the Bulgarian actress Irmena Chichikova.
Sofia Film Fest Autumn
The autumn edition will be from the end of September to the middle of October this year. This will take place in several cinemas in Sofia, and the program will mainly include titles that were not part of the summer festival.
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If you are big fans of the Seventh Art and you want to be part of the upcoming editions of Sofia Film Fest in Sofia, welcome to Art Hotel Simona. It matters where we spend the night, so we offer you to turn your stay in the capital into a real art experience.
Where the Name of Sofia Comes From
Over the centuries, the current Bulgarian capital has had different names. And this is not surprise, because of that its history dates back to the early Neolithic – somewhere around VI millennium BC.
The legend of Sofia
The name of the city is believed to have come from the mighty Emperor Justinian I and his daughter. Legend tells that although he was a very rich and prosperous ruler, he hadn’t been happy person at all. And the reason for this was the fact that his daughter Sofia had been seriously ill. Famous doctors from all over the world tried to cure her, but without success.
The emperor’s advisers told him that the fresh air of nature, peace and quiet might help her. So Justinian decided to try and ordered them to find such a place. And it was the foothills of Vitosha Mountain, where the small Slavic town of Sredets was located at the time.
The miracle of nature
There were mineral springs, the climate was mild and pleasant, and the air was filled with the aroma of flowers and fruits. It turned out that the change of circumstances really helped the sick Sofia and very soon she began to improve, the smile on her face returned, as well as her desire to sing. When she fully recovered, the girl decided to stay in this beautiful city forever.
A special gift
Justinian I ordered a church to be built in the center of the city. It was called “St. Sophia”, and later people begin to call the city the same way – Sofia *.
* Source of the legend: Bulgarian in One Breath (author Elena Stoyanova)
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If you have a trip to Sofia and you are looking for a profitable and pleasant place to stay, welcome to Art Hotel Simona – an artistic atmosphere, delicious food and a new standard in cleaning.
We are waiting for you!
How to Travel all Around the World Without Leaving Your Home
For more than two months our country has been living in a pandemic due to the spread of the dangerous coronavirus. And although the extraordinary conditions closed us at home, the representatives of art found a way to reach us. So from the sofa in the living room we watched various theatrical performances that are definitely worth experiencing.
And because the times are special, it’s good to be careful where we go. That’s why we offer you to visit several great museums in different parts of the world and a few more top sights, but virtually.
Ideas for Virtually Museum Tours
Pinacoteca di Brera – Milan (works by Mantena, Giovanni Bellini, Bramante and Caravaggio, as well as many others);
Uffizi Gallery – Florence (canvases and sculptures by Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, Botticelli, Raphael, Michelangelo and other famous artists);
Vatican Museums – Rome (from the 16th century, a complex of 11 museums with 5 galleries and 1400 halls)
Capitoline Museum – Rome (a complex of museums of art and archeology located around the square, designed by Michelangelo on the Capitoline Hill in Rome);
Markets of Trajan, Imperial Forum Museums – Rome (administrative center associated with the Forum of Emperor Trajan);
Ara Pachis Museum – Rome (created in honor of the triumphant return of Emperor Octavian Augustus from Spain and Gaul in 13 BC);
Archaeological sites of the Aventine – Rome (the southernmost of the seven hills of Rome);
Archaeological Museum – Athens (“Athens Louvre”, rich in exhibits);
Prado – Madrid (museum and art gallery, founded in 1819; shows over 1300 paintings);
Louvre – Paris (the most visited museum in the world);
British Museum – London (one of the largest and richest museums in the world);
Metropolitan Museum – New York (a complex of many art galleries, a museum of musical instruments, a gallery for professional photography and a library for research);
Hermitage – St. Petersburg (the largest museum in Russia);
National Art Gallery – Washington (established in 1937).
7 Historical Places to Visit Virtually
Eiffel Tower – With its impressive 300-meter height, this Parisian attraction can not go unnoticed. The best thing, however, is the view from the top floor of the tower.
Palace of Versailles – another place in France that deserves special attention. Enjoy this cultural monument, the great flower gardens, the exquisite architecture and the wonderful halls.
Tower Bridge – the symbol of London (UK). It is 244 m long and 65 m high.
The Statue of Liberty – if you find it impressive in American movies, just wait to see it up close.
Taj Mahal – a beautiful white marble mausoleum located on the south bank of the Yamuna River in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632, but this masterpiece continues to attract millions of tourists each year.
Machu Picchu – an architectural complex in southern Peru. It is the work of the Incas and includes palaces, temples and homes at 2,430 meters above sea level in the Andes.
The Egyptian Pyramids – the virtual tour will take you to a totally different from the familiar European world. But it is definitely worth visiting the tombs of the pharaohs and their wives from the Old and Middle Egyptian kingdoms.
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If you have a trip to Sofia, we are waiting for you in the artistic and cozy atmosphere of Art Hotel Simona. And know that you do not need to worry about your safety, because we have developed a special program Clean & Safe.
Safe Place in Sofia at Super Affordable Prices
Life goes on after the COVID-19 pandemic. Of course, now this is with more attention to everything happening around the us. At the same time and with more attention to ourselves.
To all those who cannot work remotely and have to travel to Sofia, we want to say that we are waiting for you. And to make you feel even more comfortable and cozy in our art environment, we have further strengthened safety measures. That is why Art Hotel Simona created its Clean & Safe program to ensure our and your security.
New exclusive prices in Art Hotel Simona:
- Single design room – BGN 50 *
- Double economy room with two folded or split beds – 65 BGN *
- Double standard room with bedroom – BGN 70 *
- Studio with a bedroom and a sitting area – BGN 75 *
- Triple room – BGN 75 *
- Quadruple Family Room – BGN 85 *
Special price packages from Art Hotel Simona
We have also thought about the guests who have a longer stay in the capital. We offer special price packages and most importantly, this will not commit you to a contract and deposits for several months ahead.
Opportunities:
- Single design room – BGN 550 * per month;
- Double economy room with two folded or split beds – 650 BGN * per month.
The price also includes:
- Wireless internet / Wi-Fi /;
- Individual safe;
- Insurance;
- Parking;
- Tourist tax.
* The offer for long-term accommodation is valid with a prepayment of 1 month at check-in.
If you have not visited us yet and want to see the types of rooms and our themed art floors, you can click to do so on the ACCOMMODATION page.
Culinary offers from restaurant “Simona”
Simona Restaurant can now welcome you both in its closed lounge and in the beautiful summer garden. Nutrition is not to be neglected and we treat it with special care. Therefore, you will be able to enjoy temptingly delicious snacks, lunch and evening offers.
As soon as you check in, we will provide you with menus to choose from. Every day we prepare fresh and varied dishes, but still if you want to get acquainted in advance with the room service menu, you can see it on our page RESTAURANT.
For questions and reservation:
* Reservations and inquiries can be made 24 hours a day at:
Reception: +359 885 259 098; +359 2 478 04 01
WhatsApp / Viber: +359 885 259 098
sales@hotelsimona.com
* Prices include VAT and do not include breakfast.
